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United States Patent | 6,245,017 |
Hashimoto ,   et al. | June 12, 2001 |
A three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a two-dimensional array type of ultrasonic probe. A three-dimensional scan operation of scanning a three-dimensional region within a human body under examination with ultrasound and a two-dimensional scan operation of scanning a two-dimensional plane within the three-dimensional region with ultrasound are selectively performed by a beam former unit. Under the control of a controller, the three-dimensional scan operation is repeated intermittently and the two-dimensional scan operation is repeated during the interval between each three-dimensional scan. Three-dimensional ultrasonic image data concerning the three-dimensional region is produced on the basis of received echo signals obtained by the three-dimensional scan operation. Two-dimensional ultrasonic image data concerning the two-dimensional plane section is produced on the basis of received echo signals obtained by the two-dimensional scan operation.
Inventors: | Hashimoto; Shinichi (Otawara, JP); Abe; Yasuhiko (Otawara, JP); Ogasawara; Yoichi (Otawara, JP); Yamagata; Hitoshi (Otawara, JP) |
Assignee: | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Kawasaki, JP) |
Appl. No.: | 429902 |
Filed: | October 29, 1999 |
Oct 30, 1998[JP] | 10-311367 | |
Nov 06, 1998[JP] | 10-316584 |
Current U.S. Class: | 600/447; 128/916 |
Intern'l Class: | A61B 008/00 |
Field of Search: | 600/443,447,445,456,472 73/625,626,606 367/7,11,130 128/916 |
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5546807 | Aug., 1996 | Oxaal et al. | |
5720291 | Feb., 1998 | Schwartz | 600/456. |
5993391 | Nov., 1999 | Kamiyama | 600/443. |
E. D. Light, et al. "Progress in Two-Dimensional Arrays for Real-Time Volumetric Imaging", Ultrasonic Imaging, vol. 20, 1998, pp. 1-15. |